Modular stacking unit



1957 R. s. JAKUBOWSKI 2,801,752

MODULAR STACKING UNIT Filed DEC. 3, 1954 Un ted St t Pat-611110 MODULAR STACKING UNIT Richard S. Jakubowski, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Jarke Manufacturing Company The present invention relates to the general field of materials handling and storage, and more particularly to a modular rack construction which provides a simple flexible system for permanent or temporary storage.

Many methods and devices formoving, storing, stacking and handling materials have been evolved over the recent years. Few of them, however, have been directed toward the storing of barstock. Even fewer have been of such light weight as to be an easy one-arm lift. In addition, the known structures for handling and storage have not been sufliciently flexible in operation to accommodate a wide variation in lengths of bar stock and similar elongated materials intended for storage.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a modular, light weight unit for storing and handling materials, particularly bars, rods and the like, which is inexpensive, rugged, and simple to operate.

A related object of the invention is to furnish a modular storage unit which assembles or disassembles in seconds in nested fashion without resort to any bolts, tools, or fittings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular storage unit which may be expanded with like units to whatever width, height, and length requirements the user desires.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following illustrative description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of two columns of modular stacking units illustrative of the present invention, showing how elongated materials can be stacked in racks built from these units. 7

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a single modular unit from which the racks contemplated by the present invention may be built.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the modular stacking unit shown in perspective in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the modular stacking unit shown in perspective in Fig. 2. I

Fig. 5 is a top view of the modular stacking unit shown in perspective in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a side view in reduced scale of a plurality of modular stacking units of the variety shown in perspective in Fig. 2, the units being assembled into racks loaded with elongated materials such as pipe, rod, and bar stock.

The basic structural building block for the stacking racks contemplated by the present invention is illustrated in perspective in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. Basically the unit contemplates four (4) tubular corner posts 11, the longitudinal axes of which describe a rectangular pattern. Channel members 16, flanged at their end portions 18 serve to form the end panels of the modular unit, the end panel width being the minor dimension of the rectangle formed by the four corner posts. The end panels are then joined by a pair of inverted channel members 22 proportioned to nest within the area beneath the end panel channel members 16 and the end panel corner posts 11, the inverted channels 22 abutting the end panel bottom flange 20 of the channel member 16 and the corner post inner faces for rigid attachment. Caps 12 are fixed to the tops of each of the four corner posts, and proportioned for a nesting fit within the open end post foot of a like modular unit.

The unit is so constructed that between any of the corner posts, whether across the end panel or between the end panels, at least three structural elements are joined thereby insuring a rigid, and yet light weight construction. In addition, since the load will be borne by the longitudinal inverted channels joining the end panels, the greatest strength has been accorded this span thus assuring maximum load carrying capacity with a minimum of weight in the load carrying structure.

Referring now to the drawings for greater detail, it will be seen that the illustrative modular unit 10 as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 contemplates four square tubular corner posts 11. The corner posts 11 are tubular to minimize weight, and of sufficient dimension to support the intended load for the particular sized module being built. Although in the present instance the corner posts 11 have been shown as square tubular members, a wide variety of shapes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The corner posts may be capped with truncated pyramidal caps 12 which are conventionally stamped and then welded onto the tops of the corner posts 11 by means of the welded joint 14 shown in Fig. 3. Dilferent shapes of corner posts may be employed, and consequently different shaped caps may be required the principal function of the caps 12 is to nest within the foot of the associated modular unit corner posts 11. Any shape which achieves this end will perform satisfactorily.

Pairs of the corner posts 11 are joined at their lower portion into an end panel 15 by means of end panel channels 16. It will be noted that end panel channel 16 has an overlapping flange portion 18 extending from its ends. Upon joining the end panel channel 16 to the end posts 11 the end flanged portion 18 overlaps and is welded to the end posts 11 as at the welds 19 shown (Fig. 4). In addition the end panel channel longitudinal flanges 20 are welded at their butt ends to the end posts 11 as shown by the welds 21.

To assemble the end panels into the modular storage rack basic building element, a pair of load supporting channels, mirror images of each other, serve as longitudinal runners between the end panels 15. It will be seen that the cross-section of the longitudinal channels 22 has a pair of downwardly projecting legs 24, the outer of such legs being L-shaped, and presenting a longitudinal channel inner ledge 25. The longitudinal load channels 22, after being inverted, are then welded to the end panel members 15 by joining the end portions thereof to the lower flange 20 of the end panel channel 16 as by the welds 26 shown. In addition, the longitudinal channel ledge 25 is used to buttress a weld. 2S joining the longitudinal channel runners to the end posts 11. The construction thus achieved is extremely rugged for its light weight, being resistant to tipping, swaying, and unbalanced loads.

In operation the modular stacking units are piled atop each other as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 to form stacking columns 30. Elongated materials 31 may then be stacked along the fiat area formed by the backs of the longitudinal channels 22 of each modular stacking element 10. Handling the elongated stacked materials 31 by means of a fork lift truck may be achieved by one man as the materials may be lifted from their associated rack by engaging them at their mid-section with the tines of a fork lift truck, the modular elements 10 removed Patented Aug. 6, 1957;

by hand, and then the materials either dropped to a different rack or removed to the position Where they are to be employed. In addition the modular stacking elements 10 may be used tosupply materials to an automatic screw machine by merely setting up the rack positioned to deliver bar stock directly to the machine. The units also find utility in stacking rugs, floor coverings, and other elongated elements which presently want for a highly mobile interchangeable storage system.

Although one particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in full here, there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to the details of such embodiment. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative embodiments, usages and equivalents of the modular stacking unit as fall Within the, spirit and scope-of the invention, specification. and appended claims.

I claim asmy invention:

1. A modular nesting storage rack. characterized by four vertical corner posts located on rectangular centers, channel members connecting adjacent pairs of corner posts to form end panels, a pair of inverted channel load bearing runners positioned and proportioned and secured to abut beneath the end panel channels and against the opposed sides of the end panel corner posts thereby joining the end panels and leaving an unobstructed storage area between the end panels and above the inverted channel load bearing members, and a cap on each corner post proportioned to nest Within the foot of the corner post of a like storage element permitting the stackingot a plurality of storage elements.

2. A modular nesting storage unit characterized by four corner posts oriented on rectangular centers, a pair of transverse channel members having flanges on their ends overlappingly secured to the outside sides of a pair of corner posts thereby forming end panels, a pair of longitudinal load bearing channel members facing downwardly and secured beneath and against the transversev end panel channels and against. the opposed sides of the end panel corner posts thereby defining an unobstructed load area above the load bearing channels, and means secured to the upper ends of the corner poststo effect a nesting of like storage units atop each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS v Longenecker Oct. 12', 

